Multiple collisions during Frisian skûtsjesilen sailing competition

There were three collisions during skûtsjesilen in Friesland today. During one of the collisions, the public had to move quickly, writes Omrop Fryslân. Skûtsjesilen are Frisian sailing competitions with a skûtsje (Frisian for 'boat'), a wooden or steel barge.

Villages and cities compete with each other. After Eernewoude was the first to cross the finish line today, something went wrong with Leeuwarden's skûtsje. A reporter from Omrop Fryslân spoke to the skipper when the collision happened: After that there were two more collisions.

In a collision between Drachten and Langweer, a crew member was injured in her foot, the regional broadcaster writes. The finish was in a narrow ditch so the ships sailed close together. That's probably why it went wrong several times in a short period of time. The extent of the damage to the skûtsjes involved is not yet known.